Editor's Blog2 mins ago
Lawn To Meadow: Tips Welcome
17 Answers
Blimey, first gardening question here! I'd never imagine I, one of the least green-fingered people who ever lived, would be asking it.
The house we recently bought has a large back garden, mostly lawn. We want to do away with the lawn and eventually have wild flowers, essentially a small meadow as many are now doing, but with paths through/around it (which we may eventually have gravelled). What we've read so far suggests that short of uprooting the lawn turf, we could simply stop mowing the areas we want 'wilding'. Also to scatter yellow rattle to weaken the grass and stop it dominating. It's a long-term process and we'd like to get started asap. Anything else we should know? What about maintaining the un-mown areas, do we need to strim occasionally?
All tips, hints, suggestions, benefits of experience welcome. Thanks!
The house we recently bought has a large back garden, mostly lawn. We want to do away with the lawn and eventually have wild flowers, essentially a small meadow as many are now doing, but with paths through/around it (which we may eventually have gravelled). What we've read so far suggests that short of uprooting the lawn turf, we could simply stop mowing the areas we want 'wilding'. Also to scatter yellow rattle to weaken the grass and stop it dominating. It's a long-term process and we'd like to get started asap. Anything else we should know? What about maintaining the un-mown areas, do we need to strim occasionally?
All tips, hints, suggestions, benefits of experience welcome. Thanks!
Answers
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No substitute for doing it properly. Strip and remove the existing turf and 're sow with a meadow mix that includes yellow rattle. ( also worth adding some snakes head fritillary bulbs at this point and maybe some other spring bulbs, they will die down before the meadow flowers get too big)If possible find a mix based on local flowers as it will establish...
06:48 Tue 04th Jul 2023
@calmck - how long have you have you done this for? What sort of maintenance is involved? Yes - *no mowing* - that's the dream.
@Vagus - eventually yes we'll have a selection of wild flowers in the way you suggest. My understanding from the brief research I've done so far indicates this can't be done for a while though. Apparently, leaving the desired areas un-mown first allows naturally present wild flowers - eg daisies, dandelions, that usually get mown away - to establish, but because lawn grass is so dominant you have to then 'weaken' it by sowing something parasitic, eg yellow rattle. This supposedly breaks the grass's predominance and sets the scene for further wildflower sowing.
@Vagus - eventually yes we'll have a selection of wild flowers in the way you suggest. My understanding from the brief research I've done so far indicates this can't be done for a while though. Apparently, leaving the desired areas un-mown first allows naturally present wild flowers - eg daisies, dandelions, that usually get mown away - to establish, but because lawn grass is so dominant you have to then 'weaken' it by sowing something parasitic, eg yellow rattle. This supposedly breaks the grass's predominance and sets the scene for further wildflower sowing.
I've been practising the"no mow may" method for several years now, and every year seems better than the last. Hawkbit is dominating this year, also my bird's foot trefoil patch is expanding well, and the lesser knapweed is bringing marbled white butterflies in. orange hawkweed adds some variation, and it self seeds well, as does clover.
I like to mow meandering walkways through my mini meadow, it adds a scence of perpose.
I like to mow meandering walkways through my mini meadow, it adds a scence of perpose.
No substitute for doing it properly.
Strip and remove the existing turf and 're sow with a meadow mix that includes yellow rattle. ( also worth adding some snakes head fritillary bulbs at this point and maybe some other spring bulbs, they will die down before the meadow flowers get too big)If possible find a mix based on local flowers as it will establish better. Strim off in early October, leave the cut plants on the soil for 24 hours then rake up and remove. It's then just a matter of wedding out the nasties when they appear like dock,thistles, ragwort, and dandelions.
Strip and remove the existing turf and 're sow with a meadow mix that includes yellow rattle. ( also worth adding some snakes head fritillary bulbs at this point and maybe some other spring bulbs, they will die down before the meadow flowers get too big)If possible find a mix based on local flowers as it will establish better. Strim off in early October, leave the cut plants on the soil for 24 hours then rake up and remove. It's then just a matter of wedding out the nasties when they appear like dock,thistles, ragwort, and dandelions.
As an alternative to scattering seeds, which can be a bit hit-and-miss, might like to buy turf with the wild flowers already growing in it, such as "meadow mats" which can save a lot of time, getting perennials established.
I scattered some old carrot seed, I had lying around, and they turned out to make some surprisingly nice plants, if allowed to flower.
I aim to build as many habitats as space allows, even mini wetlands in half barrels etc, or maybe a stumpery of logs for a woodland glade, with ferns and woodland flowers
I scattered some old carrot seed, I had lying around, and they turned out to make some surprisingly nice plants, if allowed to flower.
I aim to build as many habitats as space allows, even mini wetlands in half barrels etc, or maybe a stumpery of logs for a woodland glade, with ferns and woodland flowers
Rowan, bees love dandelions. Backdrifter please read the article.
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